Music Man HD 130 212

Features are described in detail in other reviews.

I bought mine new in 1977. It does classic Fender clean and serious crunch. Just not at the same time. I sometimes wish I had two of them and an A/B switch to transition between the extremes. As noted by many reviewers, it has power out the wazoo. Sufficient to knock down walls and render your ears useless. You need distant or tolerant neighbors to exercise this fully at home.

If you run it in clean mode at the end of an effects chain, you can go from the living room to concert hall simply by turning up the volume.

First, I am a hands, guitar, cord, amp person.

The original speakers had a diffuse and fuzzy sound I didn't really care for, so I swapped them for ElectroVoice SROs, which have a crisper edge, transmit the clarity that is availble from the amp's clean settings, and can handle the full output of the amp. Down side: the SROs are even heavier than the originals (worth it).

As opposed to most of the other reviewers who run the amp in its clean personna at generally modest levels, I like mine running hot. Among other things, that means tubes wear out. During my somewhat impoverished college years, I used matched sets of tubes from Radio Shack. I was never completely happy with the sound. A few years later, I put out the bucks for a set of Groove Tubes. Wow. I almost cried. Blooming harmonic feedback, fat leads, nicely edged rhythms. A spectacular improvement. I have tried several Groove Tubes hardness levels. 3 was too easily distorted; the clarity of the clean side was lost. Level 7 was way too hard and clear for me. They may have given beautiful distortion at very high volume on a big stage with an extension cabinet, in a Roy Buchannan mode, but I never got to that point. I prefer level 4 tubes.

Preferred settings: Channel 2, Input 1, Channel Volume 10, Master 4.2 (Duane Allmanish leads and crisp rhythms); Channel volume 2-4 and Master 10 for super clean.

When operating at high channel volume, the sound really blooms as the master goes above 3, transitioning from a Carlos Santana lead sound that is also OK for heavy crunch rhythms but not much else, to a zone where crisp clear rhythms are available at lower guitar volume settings and a flamingly hot lead sound happens with full guitar output. The full-bore sound is nicely sculptable with rich feedback. It has high sustain, but is not so highly compressed as to lose note definition.

The half power setting is useful for home practice, but not satisfactory for serious rocking. Half power with Channel on 2 and Master on 5 worked well for some nicely ringing clear work when playing electric with acoustic players.

With careful tube selection based on your speaker setup, intended use and volume, etc., this thing can be fine-tuned for a wide array of purposes.

Compared to many other amps I have played, the HD 130 is nicely responsive to touch. Compared to my Mesa Subway Reverb Rocket, the HD 130 is somewhat less responsive to my touch, and reveals less of the colors available from my guitar. Bottom line: the HD 130 is the go-to machine for serious playing if drums and bass are involved. It is also my choice for highly physical sound shaping when no one is home (ear plugs!).

Physically very solid. Still almost in showroom condition.

Shorted capacitor had to be replaced when it was about 12 yrs old. Had it rebiased when I switched from 6CA7 to EL34 power tubes. That's it. Just turned 30. Played it tonight (time for new tubes).

Tubes tend to announce upcoming failure by getting microphonic and the overall sound becoming less satisfactory. Replace them before they die and possibly cause other problems.

The design and construction makes it able to be repaired by any good amp technician. Long out of warranty (never needed to use). Schematic was supplied with the amp.

A seriously fine amp. Speakers and tubes are very important in getting the sound you want.

It is heavy and I am less young than I used to be. I am considering selling the HD 130 and the Reverb Rocket to get a Mesa Lonestar Special, which isn't as high powered as the HD 130 but should stand up to drums and bass. Based on showroom experience, the Special has exellent sound quality, footswitchable channel selection, and touch responsiveness like the Rocket. I'd miss the HD 130 more than the Rocket.

I believe mine's a 1980. Sounds like a master volume twin reverb on steroids. Solid state preamp, 4 EL34s for power. Foot-switchable tremelo and reverb. If I was going to add anything, it would be a preamp stage that added quality gain, but I use pedals for that.

This amp excells at high volume muscular clean tones. If you need a high gain amp, look elsewhere (or use floor pedals). However, if you need to play bold, full-bodied clean rhythm with a loud band, this is your baby. It loves strats and pretty much any other guitar I've played thru it. It also mates very well with pedals, and that's a big selling point. You can dial in your wonderful country or funk-clean rhythm tone, and then when you need to get crazy just step on your distorition pedal. It just sounds great. I don't give it a 10 because tone wise it just doesn't compare with the boutique amps around today--but you can't get those for $400! And most of them won't match this when it comes to good clean volume.

I've had this amp 15 years, and it's never failed, or even made funny noises. It's ROCK SOLID. Everyone says the same thing about Musicman amps--Overbuilt is the word that comes to mind. However, never gig without a backup.

MusicMan no longer makes amps. You're on your own, altho any amp tech can fix it.

I've been playing 20 years and have gone thru ALL kinds of guitars and amps. Mostly I play rock and blues, and currently primarily use a Les Paul. I've bought and sold tons of stuff, but keep this amp because I love the tough clean tones--I've yet to hear another amp that sounds the same. And if you need loud clean, this is the one. The biggest drawback is that it weighs around 70 lb. Again, I won't give it a 10 because there are better amps out there, but you won't get one for $400, and the one's I've owned don't deliver the loud clean tones that this one does.

Made in the USA in 1977, Eminence custom alinco speakers, 130 watts pure power!!! This baby is a blues tone machine! No wonder Clapton played them in the 70's!!!!!!!! Has reverb & tremola what else ya need?

Super Blues Grind, plenty of headroom when cranked! I play 1991 strat with Hot Noiseless pickups, through a Boss GT-6, My other gear is a 1977 strat with Mu Grande Pickups and a JCM900.For the money a super deal, its a Rivera designed amp.

Built like a tank!

gone out of Business Leo Fender had to sale due to a lawsuit with Fender Company.

Wouls search the ends of the Earth for another nice HD-212-130.

This amp is from the 70's, built by Fender and sold under the Music Man name. Same setup as a Fender Twin Reverb, two channels, two inputs on each channel, a bright/normal switch on each, individual volume controls with one master volume, 3-band EQ, tremolo controls on the vibrato channel. 130W, with a half power switch to bring it down to 65 watts. There is also a "Deep / Normal" switch on the right channel, which I always keep on deep for more bass response. There's also a speaker out on the back so you can use it to run another speaker cabinet. Mine has the stock Music Man speakers, although I've heard that if you put in a couple of Electro Voice speakers, this amp can really come alive (although EV speakers are ridiculously heavy!) Four EL34 tubes, one 12ax7 phase inverter. Supposedly the ones with the phase inverter preamp tube is the most desirable, although I've heard that even the ones without it sound great.

I'm using a MIJ Telecaster and Guild Bluesbird with this amp, as well as a Fender Rhodes electric piano and both sound great through it. I've owned this amp for almost a year and a half now, and I play mostly spacey instrumental music like Album Leaf, Windy and Carl, Keith Fullerton Whitman, etc and this amp is great for that. The clean channel is good, basically a poor man's Twin Reverb. However, I think that because the preamp section is solidstate, the tone definitely is not as complex sounding as an old Fender. It's loud though with plenty of headroom, and stays clean. The distortion (if you turn up the volume) sounds pretty crappy, but it has some decent medium gain sounds. Some bands that I've seen use this amp are Denali, Jim O'Rourke, and The Arcade Fire, to give you an idea of its versatility. It likes pedals, I haven't experimented much with dirt pedals but it sounds great with delays.

When I bought it, one of the solder joints in the reverb tank was disconnected, but that was an easy fix. I changed the tubes to JJ's and it sounds good. Sometimes this amp will make an intermittent crackling noise, but it's so intermittent that it's not a real issue.

N/A

Overall, I like this amp, mostly because of the incredible price I got it at. For the price, it's a perfect 10, but in terms of the entire amp market, I think I'd have to give it an 8. My other amp at the time was a Carvin Bel-Air combo, which in retrospect I actually liked better (I liked the EL84 clean tone it had better, it was more toneful I think). I ended up selling the Bel-Air because this amp was louder and more indie looking (stupid, I know) but I have no regrets since these are getting harder to find. This is a great, reliable amp that can do a variety of styles, and a lot of great indie bands use it for that reason. However, I've kind of grown tired of this sound after owning for so long. I probably will never sell it, since it is such a powerful, reliable, and good sounding amp, but I'd like to find something with a more 3D, complex clean sound like an AC30, Fender, or boutique amp. I also own an Ampeg V-4 head, which has a slightly different clean sound, and a Sunn Solarus head, which also has a slightly different clean tone.

Mine was made in 1978 and is still solid as a rock. They don't make them like they used to. Very versitle for a 120watt all tube head with reverb. I mostly play punk rock and emotional rock and blues. The amp has two channels, one with reverb and tremover which both sound really good. Most built in effects suck but the HD-130's are really well balanced and smooth. It's pretty basic and runs at either 4ohm or 8. The only thing it really needs is an overdrive. If you want deep muddy good overdrive and play punk or skate punk I suggest a DOD grunge pedal to complement. The amp is a beast, you can feel all 130watts of the tube power. In the power section there are four EL34's and pre-amp has one 12AX7. I have a Marshall 1960AV Cabinet with a Mesa Boogie black shadow and the head powers it easily.

I use a Fender Custom Stratocaster modle with an American Delux neck and a seymour duncan Invador pickup and sounds very good. Its perfect for large shows and concerts but at the same time it won't piss off the neighbors. The amp stays clear and does get distorted at high volumes and there is much tone.

Never had a problem with it and don't forsee one. Although the amp is 130watts all tube with reverb it is pretty light and flashy looking. I also own a Marshall JCM900 and never bring it is a backup because I'm not worried. Never broken down, but I also take very good care of it which is what everyone should do with an amp.

None.....the amp is 25 years old

I have been playing guitar for seven years and I also own a Marshall JCM900 100Watt tube head, A marshall 1960AV with a Mesa Boogie black shadow, Marshall VS65R. I have a Fender American custom stratocaster and Fender Tom Delonge stratocaster and if my MM Head ever was to leave I would be heartbroken. I compared it with a Mesa Boogie single rectifer and decided it was equal to or better to the mesa boogie with twice the power and still a respectable name. The only thing it needs is a good overdrive.

I think my amp was made in 1979. I do not care if it is versatile, I usually play with clean sound, rarely I use an overdrive.
Channels and controls like a Twin Reverb.
It has enough power to play clean without P.A., in a club.
It is very loud.

I use a ES335, neck p.u.. The knobs: middle 10, bass 5, high 3, pre 2.5, master 5 to 8. The sound is clean, jazzy, great. I receive
lots of compliments for my sound. But I have only one sound. Sometimes I use a wha or an overdrive: very warm and powerful.
Some years ago I used with a processor: it was like any other amp. I prefer to have only 2 sounds but beautiful. It is very difficult to have a crunch sound, because it is too powerful. It is very dinamic, if you can use the master volume at 8 (pre at 2.5).

Great! I hold it in the car trunk for long times. I use it since 10 years. I only retubed the pilot-tube. The amp has never broken down. Sometimes I have to change the fuse. I think the sound is less clean when the amp is humid (it lean in my car!): I turn it on an our before the gig and all is OK.

???

im not sure what year it is, its the early model, it has the 12ax7a driver tube and a low serial number. i havent found any source for dating them, i looked inside but couldnt locate any hints to what year it was made. the amp sounds good at low volumes and much better when the volume is increased, if you can stand to be in the room with it, endless volume!! i play clean to high gain, i use a zoom 505 for the real dirty overdrive. the midrange is set on the low end, wish it was set at a higher frequency, treble almost too high, lots of bass. i dont play out anymore, the amp is used at home and the occasional session, casters make it easy to move around, this thing is heavy.

im using an american standard strat. with texas specials, good thick sound, the amp will cover most any setting except high gain for which i use the zoom 505 for. very quiet amp, very little hiss at high volume, no hum at all. a little trick i use to get a great overdriven sound is remove two of the power tubes, either the inside pair or outside pair, cut the power switch to half, the impedence to 8 ohms and it will push the power amp into a nice crunch.

built like a tank!!! got mine from a guy who had it in a closet for a long time, put it in the shop for a cap job and new tubes, the only thing that was missing were the speakers and foot switch, i put the carvin british series speakers in there and they sound fantastic, they match up real well with the el-34 tubes and wont be blown out by this amps enormous power. wish i had a footswitch, anyone have one for sell, e-mail me!! this amp is also very near dead mint, the cleanest one ive ever seen, i suspect it has never been outside a bedroom before i got it.

none. just a schematic, youll have to find a local amp tech. not hard to locate.e/ball has no other info on these amps.

ive been playing since the summer of 1979, ive owned a lot of amps, this amp is one of my favorites. would hate to part with it, the power is more than enough, not too large and although heavy, its still managable. great power amp crunch when cranked high.

It's a very early model, sn# 1341. The Musicman line changed over time from a single tube preamp to transistor preamp, and inmy opinion, lost a lot of it's character. They are good for country and jazz, but not so good for an extreme overdrive sound, unless you use outboard effects. This is a two channel amp; one non-effects and one with, which is a spring type reeverb in contrast to tube, which makes the reverb not as lush. No effects loops; no headphone jack; no channel switching. I wish it had about 80 watts less power. Hardly ever use this amp because it is much too loud for most applications. It's weight is also a factor in using it full time. Mine has JBL's in it, which makes it that much more difficult to move around. I don't have the footswitch with it, but would like to find one. I have considered trading it for a Deluxe because it's power, even on low range. It's just a very, very loud amp! It is built very well, but it sound too close to solid state for me.

mike

Custom Strat style with Duncan Virtual vintage, Gibson ES 345, 1961 Les Paul, 1989 Fender American Standard Telecaster.
Marginal
Not noisy. Caps just replaced.
Very clean and loud.
Clean channel does not distort very good past 5.
I usually play the amp on about 3 with the master up.

Very reliable.
I have several other amps.
Just re-tubed and rebiased and has NOS pre.

You can still download schematics from the Ernie Ball web site. Some of the original members of the amp design team were still there a few years ago.

Been playing for about 30 years.
Probably buy a Fender Deluxe Reissue.
It's in good shape and well built.
I hate how much it weighs and how hard it is to overdrive without killing someone down the block.
These would be great for people looking for lots of headroom and extreme volume, becuase they have that!!